MATCH PREVIEW: TOWN V DERBY

29 December 2017

Jacob Henderson

A look at Saturday’s game as Town host Derby at Portman Road

Current standingsBlues sit 10th following a draw at home to QPR last time out, but could rise to seventh with three points this weekend. Derby have moved up to fourth and are unbeaten in December. The last defeat for Gary Rowett’s side was in fact Town’s 1-0 win at Pride Park last month.

League formTown – 7/15 points.

Forest (H) W 4-2

Middlesbrough (A) L 2-0

Reading (H) W 2-0

Wolves (A) L 1-0

QPR (H) D 0-0

Derby – 13/15 points.

Burton (H) W 1-0

Barnsley (A) W 3-0

Aston Villa (H) W 2-0

Millwall (H) W 3-0

Hull (A) D 0-0

Last time we met: Derby 0-1 Town 28.11.17Callum Connolly’s fifth minute strike was enough for Mick McCarthy’s Blues to take all three points when the two sides last met in November. Connolly connected with a Martyn Waghorn corner to head Town in front, and goal line technology confirmed the Everton loanee had netted his first goal since arriving from the Premier League club in the summer. Joe Ledley had a chance to level for the Rams late on but the Welshman fired over the crossbar.

Previous meetings at Portman Road

31.01.17 Town 0-3 Derby

19.12.15 Town 0-1 Derby

10.01.15 Town 0-1 Derby

25.03.15 Town 2-1 Derby

23.10.12 Town 1-2 Derby

One to watch: Matej VydraMatej Vydra is the second top scorer in the Championship this season with 13 goals. The Czech Republic international has also been directly involved in the second most goals in the league with 16 having contributed three assists.

Could be the difference: Blues’ aerial threatTown have scored 10 headed goals this campaign – a league high, with six different players contributing at least one of these.